Pensacola, Fla. (November 24, 2006) – The Saint Leo University women’s basketball team (1-3) opened the UWF Turkey Day Classic with a 72-64 loss to the University of West Alabama (2-1) on Friday in Pensacola, Fla.

UWA was led by Ashton Washington, who posted her second double-double of the season, with game-highs in points (19) and rebounds (11). Jessica Thompson recorded 16 points, while Wennica Foster chimed in 12 points for the Tigers.

After leading 37-29 at the intermission, UWA would open the second half on 10-2 run to reach its largest lead of the game, 20 points, on a jumper by Washington.

SLU would chip away at the Tigers lead and with just under five and a half minutes, would take its second lead of the game, 62-60, on a lay-up from Chemeka Amos (Sr., Zephyrhills. Fla.).

UWA wouldn’t let the SLU lead linger long, as the Tigers ripped off a 12-2 run over the last five minutes to pick up the victory.

The Lions will face tournament host West Florida tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. ET in the final game of the UWF Turkey Day Classic. UWF knocked off Barry University 61-34 in the second half of Friday’s doubleheader.